National Park Los Nevados

Information

Trekking 1

Trekking 2

Trekking 3

Map

This mountain area exists of several volcanoes of which ‘El Nevado del Ruiz’, ‘Nevado de Santa Isabel’ and ‘El Nevado del Tolima’ are the most famous and the only ones with a snow cap. Here you find wild beauty combined with a mountainous area with enormous sleeping volcanoes and snowy peaks, hot springs and deep valleys with recent memories of tragic volcanic eruptions.

We offer programs of different lengths and different difficulty levels. Besides the 3 mentioned options on this page we can also offer custom made programs including different walking routes or climbing different peaks.

During the here mentioned options we assume that every participant carries his own luggage. It is possible that on some routes the luggage is carried by horses, this is optional and needs to be arranged beforehand. At the visitor center El Cisne accommodation can be arranged in comfortable cabañas.

For the trekking in the Park Los Nevados a very good condition is required and it is recommendable to have some experience with mountain trekking/climbing. Food and beverages are not included but it is possible to buy the food needed for the trekking as a group.

The climb to the top of Tolima isn´t classified as technical and that is why we don´t make use of a harness or rope. The guide that accompanies the group decides if the circumstances are good enough to climb the top.

On request the personal equipment or a part of it can be rented with DE UNA.

Trekking Valle de Cocora – Nevado del Ruiz 6 days / 5 nights

Day 1:Morning flight from Bogota to Armenia and transport to Valle de Cocora (2400 m) via Salento. From here we start to climb through the dense cloud forest to Estrella de Agua (3200 m) where we will camp for the night.

Day 2:We get up early to climb up to the Paramo of Romerales. When we get to the Paramo the path is not so steep anymore and we will be rewarded with some amazing views. We will camp at the Laguna del Encanto (3990 m) at the foot of the Nevado del Tolima (5215 m) from where we can have great views of the Nevado del Ruiz (5300m).

Day 3:Be prepared for a long day. Early morning we will walk to Valle del Placer, from there we go to the pass of Paramillo de Quindio with Nevado de Santa Isabel, we climb and decent to the almost dry Laguna Leona. The last part of that day will go through a sloping paramo area to the biggest lake of the park: Laguna del Otún.

Day 4:From the lake we climb very close to the glacier border of Nevado de Santa Isabel. When we are on the north side of this sleeping volcano we will have an amazing view on Laguna Verde Encantada where we decent to. From this lake it is only a short walk to the visitors center El Cisne where we will camp for the night.

Day 5:From here it is a long walk through the moon landscape of the Nevado del Ruiz. When we get to the crossing between La Olleta and Nevado del Ruiz we will take a bus down to Manizales where we will stay in the center of the city.

Day 6:Transport by bus to Bogota (+/- 8 hours).Inclusive:- National flight Bogotá - Armenia- Mentioned transport- Entrrance fee to the Park- Gas cooker and pans- DE UNA Guide- Accommodation in a hotel in the center of Manizales

Optional:- With 1 extra day you can climb the Nevado del Tolima from Laguna del Encanto.- National flight Manizales - Bogota- Public bus Bogota - Armenia

Trekking Otún Quimbaya – Nevado del Ruiz 5 days / 4 nights

Day 1:Morning flight from Bogota to Pereira and with a chiva (typical local transport) along the Otun river up to El Cedral from which we will start the climb. After a walk of around 2 hours we get to the cabin La Pastora where we spend the night in bunk beds on a height of 2700m.

Day 2:We start walking early in the morning and follow the Otun river. After a long day we will arrive at the biggest lake of the park: Laguna Otun where we will camp 4000m.

Day 3:From the lake we will climb very close to the glacier border of Nevado de Santa Isabel. When we are on the north side of this sleeping volcano we will have an amazing view on Laguna Verde Encantada where we decent to. From this lake it is only a short walk to the visitors center El Cisne where we will camp for the night.

Day 4:From here it is a long walk through the moon landscape of the Nevado del Ruiz. When we get to the crossing between La Olleta and Nevado del Ruiz we will take a bus down to Manizales where we will stay in the center of the city.

Day 5:Transport with public bus to Bogota (+/- 8 hours).Inclusive:- National flight Bogotá - Pereira- Mentioned transport- Entrance fee to the Park- Gas cooker and pans- DE UNA Guide- Accommodation in the cabin La Pastora- Accommodation in a hotel in the center of Manizales

Optional:- National flight Manizales - Bogota- Public transport to Pereira instead of flight

Nevado del Tolima - 4 Days / 3 nights

Day 1:At 08.00 o´clock in the morning transport (+/- 4 hours) from Bogota to Ibaqué, from there we go further up with private transport through the Cañon de Combeima to the Hacienda El Silencio. From here it is only a 45 minute walk to El Rancho where we will spend the night in simple huts or in tents on a height of 2450m. At El Rancho we can enjoy the thermal baths once we arrive.

Day 2:After breakfast we will go with all our luggage up the next camp at 4000m in a Paramo, the path is very steep and muddy but once arrived we will have splendid views on the Nevado del Tolima.

Day 3:Our day will start at 4 in the morning, we need to start to climb this early as we need to be at the glacier around 08.00 o´clock. The last 2 hours we will walk with crampons over the glacier to the top of the volcano from which we will have a great view over the Park Los Nevados. After reaching the top we will return to our camp.

Day 4:We will go down early to enjoy the thermal baths before we go back to Bogotá.Inclusive:- Mentioned transport - Entrance fee to the Park - Snow crampons and an icepick for the climb to the top- Gas cooker and pans - DE UNA Guide- Accommodation in El Rancho- Entrance to the thermal baths